It was a funny old weekend for football, wasn't it? Pep Guardiola's all-conquering Manchester City side lost their unbeaten record, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund lost while Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester United all dropped points.
And then there was a whole host of other weird stuff going on in the wacky world of football. Here is an alternative look at this weekend's action...
Penalty saves, penalty saves everywhere
It was a good weekend for goalkeepers saving penalties. Manchester City's Claudio Bravo thwarted Erik Lamela from the spot to keep the scoreline at 2-0 in the defeat to high-flying Spurs, but his efforts were outdone by Diego Alves in La Liga; the Brazilian saved two penalties from two different penalty takers against Atletico Madrid. He's quite the expert at saving penalties and has now saved 19 out of 41 taken against him in La Liga, breaking a record in the process. Simply incredible.
Yet bizarrely, it's another goalkeeper who takes the cake in the penalty-saving department. Vannes OC goalkeeper Jeff Bedenik made the most extraordinary penalty save in a game against TA Rennes and then followed it up with a series of stops that were purely instinctive. His side went on to win the game 3-0.
You've probably already watched it, but here it is again in all its glory.
Another (sort of) accidental assist from Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney has come under immense scrutiny this season for his performances this season by Manchester United fans and rival supporters alike. Rooney was on the bench for a third game in a row against Stoke on Sunday and like he did in midweek against Zorya Luhansk when his mis-hit found Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the England skipper contributed to his team's goal through a dodgy touch that led to Geoff Cameron playing the ball into Anthony Martial's path for the opener.
He's contributing, even if it's accidental it seems.
Mario Balotelli produces the most Mario Balotelli performance ever
It's common knowledge that Mario Balotelli is a bit of an odd ball who blows hot and cold. He showed flashes in the Premier League with Manchester City and Liverpool, as he did in Italy but his inconsistency and petulance meant no-one really got the best out of him.
The fiery Italian looked to have turned a corner in his new environment at Nice. Going into Nice's game against Lorient on Sunday, Balotelli had scored an impressive five goals in four games. Super Mario struck again yesterday, bagging a late winner in the 86th minute.
But then the former AC Milan striker was sent off for two bookable offences; the first being taking his shirt off in the midst of his game-winning celebrations, before he was then deemed to have moved his head towards Lorient defender Steven Moreira.
Balotelli's red card has been overruled as well, which only adds to the story
The most Balotelli thing ever.
Bailly and Iheanacho go Sunday League style
Nothing to compares to a good old football gaffe. You don't see them as often in top level football as you do at 10 in morning on a pitch full of shite in Sunday League, but it makes it even better when you do see a right cock-up from a player.
There were two gems on Sunday in the Premier League involving both Manchester clubs.
First United defender Eric Bailly completed fluffed his lines when picked out by Daley Blind and after completely missing the ball, he went down as if he'd been hit with a devastating Sweet Chin Music from Shawn Michaels.
Remember the period where Randy Orton's RKO vines were everywhere? Someone really needs to do a Shawn Michaels one for Bailly.
Not be outdone, City's Kelechi Iheanacho got in the Sunday League spirit with a wonderful mis-kick when chasing the ball. He tried his best to stay on his feet but ultimately admitted defeat and fell to the through.
Sterling gets caught up in the dab craze
Everyone's dabbling into dabbing at the moment. The Carolina Panthers started it off in the NFL and now Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard won't stop doing.
Even Dirk Kuyt had a go when he scored, which is the equivalent to your dad listening to Stormzy on repeat.
Raheem Sterling got caught up in the dab craze yesterday in Manchester City's 2-0 loss at the hands of Tottenham. Sterling and England teammate Danny Rose had a bit of an altercation that left Sterling feeling his back, but as he does, he does the dabbing motion.
I've watched it about 300 times and I'm still not sure whether he's intentionally dabbing in the middle of a football match or not.
What do you reckon?
Referees are getting creative these days
We all hate referees when they get decisions wrong and cost our team a chance at three points, but one cannot simply not enjoy Mike Dean's bizarre antics on the pitch. It's Mike Dean's world and we're all just living in it.
Michael Oliver has stepped up his game in recent weeks though, with the introduction of the 'goal point' which is really taking off.There was more referee goodness this weekend, in two games in particular.
Firstly, we had Andre Marriner and his gang performing the strangest pre-match warm up ever. Nothing like a bit of line dancing to get the joints moving freely before a tough game.
But without a doubt, Craig Pawson stole the show in Arsenal's late win against Burnley in the final game of the weekend.
And I'm not talking about him possibly allowing a controversial goal stand to give the Gunners the victory, the real talking point is the wonderful moment he shared with Arsenal centre-back Shkodran Mustafi.
Drake's 'Controlla' would fit perfectly...
If you think the Premier League's exciting, check out the Chilean top tier
Everyone's enjoying the close battle for supremacy in the Premier League. Manchester City's first defeat of the season means that just four points separate the league leaders and fifth place.
Pretty good going, right? It's very competitive in the English top flight, one would think.
But it's got nothing on the Chilean top tier, where about eight teams have a realistic chance of winning the league.
Union Espanola lead the way, but if a couple of results don't go their way, they could find themselves in 8th place.
Mental.
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Football, bloody hell.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football, Premier League, La Liga
